Greco, Pietracupa

Greco, PietracupaIt is truly some feat when a southern Italian wine is often held in conversations about Italys best white wine. The Pietracupa Greco is one of the very few examples of southern whites to hold these circles, and this is down to its rare and exquisite complexion, both in terms of flavour and structure and precision. On the nose youre welcomed by delicate notes of fern, sage, honeysuckle, dried mint and ginger. These open into soft peach flesh and

It is truly some feat when a southern Italian wine is often held in conversations about Italy’s best white wine. The Pietracupa Greco is one of the very few examples of southern whites to hold these circles, and this is down to its rare and exquisite complexion, both in terms of flavour and structure and precision. On the nose you’re welcomed by delicate notes of fern, sage, honeysuckle, dried mint and ginger. These open into soft peach flesh and apricot notes with a lime-zest edge. Rarely do we smell such delightful, inviting noses on wines. Once you're finally able to drag the glass away from your nose, the palate provides a wonderous harmony of stone fruits, citrus peel, white blossom, acacia honey and dried herbs. Tt's firm, mouth-filling and smooth with a stunning acidity that carries the flavours long into the finish. There is a constant mineral undertone too that adds a level of complexity and makes it a brilliant food wine. Pair this with finer fish dishes like grilled monkfish or barbecued skewers of langoustines or spaghetti with lobster!

Grown on vineyards up to 700m above sea level in the Irpinia area of Campania, this 100% Greco wine spends a couple of hours on the skins before fermentation to extract some delicate fruit aromas. It is their unparalleled altitude in the area, combined with the sunlight, exposure of the vineyards and Sabbino Loffredo’s expert hands that make this wine such a tightly packed bundle of vinous character. Thanks to cold fermentations and close attention to preserve all the delicate aromatics, this Campanian Greco is truly a special bottle. Sabbino Loffredo may only manage 8 hectares of land around the Montefredane town, but his dedication to his land pays dividends in the glass. If you’ve got the patience, hold onto one of these for 5-10 years and you’ll thank yourself (and us), so rare are the honeyed herb like aromas that develop in Pietracupa’s wines.